which I think has a certain chilling effect for people who aren't ready to march in solidarity with the Palestinians. I'm quite sympathetic to the "plight of the palestinians", but, damn, I can't stand the hyperbole. God knows I don't "support" the occupation, but I've decided I'll march for an end to the Israeli Occupation when the Palestinian charter acknowledges Israel's "right to exist" ... seems fair to me.

What.ever. I don't appreciate having this Israel/Palestine linked to every goddamned local antiwar protest ... I'm just sayin'

beeb-op: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/Allen-Ginsberg/3700 Sunflower Sutra

Back when the accusation as first made to my memory, I was baffled exactly what "support" our soldiers were somehow lacking or desiring -- they were, after all, part of the well-funded "establishment," the military budget occupying even then a shocking percentage of "your tax dollars at work." (This was before food-stamp qualifying army families)

"Supporting the troops" was, I believe, quickly followed by a "support your local police" campaign at a time when newly empowered minority communities were demanding things like civilian review boards. This also, probably not coincidentally, also related to the excesses of both Cointelpro and Nixon's emerging War on Drugs, both heralding unprecendented "cooperation" between federal (and military/industrial complex) and local police departments, as they were deputized and equipped to assist federal "law enforcement" efforts).

"Support the troops" and "Support the police" were not-at-all veiled "Support the establishment" slogans ... sorta like all those gratuitous American flag lapel pins and "America - Love it or Leave it" bumperstickers.

Yes, I think it is possible to "support" (have sympathy and compassion) for your local John or Jane Doe serving in Iraq without supporting the "mission" (which despite being virtually incoherent, is also apparently failing).

However, the complaints often stink to high heaven of a sort of "Hey, I'm a victim too" mentality that the right have been playing out against things like affirmative action for decades, asserting that they, the "establishment" and privilege, are somehow being targetted, shortchanged or poorly represented.

Locally, there are several "child shall lead them" campaigns to "support our troops" by having children draw thank you cards for "our troops" in Iraq ... I can't quite imagine what opening up packets of these brightly colored thank you cards after a day of patrolling the terrorized city streets of Baghdad would feel like beyond strange. Similarly, we've have all sorts of "send them snacks", "send them clean socks", send them phone cards, send them this and that, ad nauseumm -- proudly labeled and covered by the local news as exemplary "support our troops" efforts.

Surely, somewhere in there, working to end the war and get them back home counts for something too.

Iran is not going to be tricked into invading Kuwait, nor do I think they would use "excessive force" in defending their border against us in Iraq (though that's more likely than most scenarios, but has no date-stamp or apparent urgency, since that border has ALWAYS been porous for practical reasons and I doubt we can spare the personnel to create a crisis there.)

I have no doubt that Cheney in particular will consider his life's work undone if he leaves office without taking out Teheran, but he's an old sick man who -- god willing -- should be fairly easy to overpower in a race for the nuclear football.

"Brinksmanship" seems to have reached its zenith in the middle east. Bush/Cheny are amateurs. I think we have more to fear from tantrum like precipitous acts, however, I think he is critically diminished (and likely despised) in the eyes of the military, first and foremost, congress second, the american people third. I think (pray) orders given would be ignored.

They both, however, will continue to saber-rattle, insult, threaten and generally be scary and obnoxious until the end of their term. But I don't think an attack is going to happen and I don't think Israel is crazy enough to do it for us. Olmert is very weak right now, the country appears weary -- I don't think a preemptive strike could be rationalized. They have too much on their plate already. It's just not a good time.

I am seeing zero credible tangible upside to an attack ... and the potential downsides are massive and global. Even if they could manipulate a coalition of gulf states to beg us, and only us, to rescue them, to intervene against Iran's nuclear potential I don't think they have the time or credibility to sell it to anyone.